Best FTL advice ever. Not joking. |
Faster Than Light.
Just about sums up how fast I was thumped by FTL during my first play-through of this game. Holy smokes did I underestimate both how fun this game was and how tricky it could be. I initially resisted purchasing FTL on Steam, despite the addicting sales that drain our bank accounts during the holiday season. I'm not the greatest multi-tasker, but I do love space-based games even if they're not flight simulators. I blame Master of Orion for sparking my interest in space-based strategy games. However, while MoO oscillates between being a strategic and tactical strategy game, FTL squarely stands in the tactical realm. You can have an idea of where you want to go in each Sector map, but the ominous red wave of the Rebel Fleet might as well be the drum-beat of dread bubbling up from the depths of Khazad-dûm. It pushes you to get the hell out of dodge despite your desire to search every Beacon for things that will hopefully improve your pathetic odds against the end-game challenge. You can't predict what you will run into, what items you can pick up along the way, or how each choice you make will play out. All you can do is hold on for dear life and make the best out of each and every situation. And tucking your tail between your legs, however unpalatable, can be a viable strategy that is the difference between life, death, or a mortally wounded ship that shames you into starting over.
Without further ado, these are the voyages of the Starship Shamrock, piloted by the Captain Cuculainn.